The Invisible Man - A Journey of Self-Discovery

I'm not sure when I began to realize that I have become "invisible" in relation to how I looked before. Allow me to explain. Before when I was super obese it was hard to blend in a crowd. You stand out when are much different than the norm in terms of they way you look. Don't get me wrong, I like being different, but I didn't enjoy being the fattest guy in the room. 

You can't suck your gut in enough to hide when you weigh over 400 pounds.

Now that I am "normal-sized" in comparison to the average person, I have started to realize that I don't stand out like I did before. I still feel like I did before, wondering who is looking at me, judging me for being fat and lazy, and how I got so big. I have to pinch myself and remember that this is over now. It had become so ingrained into my psyche that the feelings still linger.  It takes a conscious effort to remind myself that this is over.

I have become an Invisible Man now.

My friend, Jeremy from Wales,  also lost a tremendous amount of weight. He once said,

"It is a strange feeling going from the most unattractive guy in the room to the most attractive."

That kind of transition is a lot for a person to get use to. He is open about his struggles with depression and self-esteem, and has told me that despite all the weight being behind him, many of his old feelings still haunt him.

Being obese, especially super obese, is much more than a mere medical problem. Many of us struggle from self-esteem issues and depression which contribute to the cyclical nature of the condition. And when we lose the weight it doesn't magically go away. I have had people tell me they were surprised when they found out that I was feeling depressed or stressed out after I lost weight.

"Don't you feel better now?"

Yes, I do, but I didn't have a lobotomy. I lost weight and it definitely improved my overall well-being from a mental health aspect. I am much more confident now, less depressed, and handle stress better than I did before. Just like winning the lottery doesn't solve people's problems, nor does losing weight. If you have issues, they will still be there. 

The great news for me is that I handle stress much better now that my health is in order. Getting regular exercise and eating better definitely contributes to that.

And when I get those old feelings of being judged by my appearance, maybe my friend Jeremy is right, I have become the most attractive guy in the room and people are checking me out...

Stay Awesome!

Mike